Vibratory foot massage device



Sept. 112 195% H. w. RUNSTEDLER 2,52E,8?4

VIBRATORY FOOT MASSAGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Dec. 3, 1948 INVENTOR.

W M m fi M W M H Sept. 12, 1950 H. w. RUNSTEDLER VIBRATORY FOOT MASSAGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1948 INVEN TOR. 1%r0/a W/Ea/mfe aZ/er Patented Sept. 12, 1950 1 Thisinvention' rela'testo mechanical massaging devices, and more particularly to an electricallydriven deviceio'r massaging the feet. h r naii'ii dbject ofthe invention is to provide a novel and improved foot massaging device which is simple in-construction, compact in size, and

PATENT OF ti 2,521,854 vmnaroarmioo'r MhssAGEnEvIcE Harold W. Runstedle'r, Erie, 'Ia. Application December 3 194 8 -,-Serial No. 63,394

" eclsims (c1; izs is) which provides an effective, stimulating and refreshihgmassage action fortlie feet, relaxing the foot muscles, relieving foot'fatigue and improving blooidicirculation.

A further'objectofthe invention is to provide an improved electrically-driven vibratory massage devicefor the feet which is inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight,..sturdy in construction and easy tous'e.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of an improved electrically-driven foot massage device constructed. in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure '1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the foot mas-v sage device of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on line i4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a. cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 isan enlarged fragmentary perspective detail view of the roller shaft and vibrator connecting means therefor, as employed in the massage device of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail view taken on line 1-! of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates a housing made of any suitable material such as metal, plastic, wood, or the like, having the inclined top wall l2 and the depending side walls l3, l3 and end wall 14, defining an enclosure. The rear top corner portion of the housing H is cut away, as shown at IE, to define an opening extending transversely across the housing between the top corner portions of the side walls i3, I3. Said top corner portions of the side walls are formed with opposing apertures l6, and loosely A coiled spring 3'2 encircles extension 27 and-tears positioned in said apertures is a transverse shaft I! provided with reduced end portions I8, I8 on' which are threaded the nuts l9, is which hold the shaft ll against endwise movement. Rotatably mounted on shaft I! are the spaced longiangle bracket .21 to. whose epend-agar secured the core structure 213 of a vibrfatdrunit', the coil of said unit being showjnfa'tflzi vibrator unit'is provided with a plunger? rocably mounted in the core structure form e; merit parallel to top wall [2 responsivfe'to the erlergizati'on or coil 24 by alternatingciirrerlt.

rotatably secured to shaft lTbetween'ther lfs 2i); Zliprojedting downwardlyfiom saic'sh ft.

between the forward nut 28 and the core structure 23, biasing the plunger 25 outwardly with respect to said core structure.

When coil 24 is energized by alternating current, plunger 25 reciprocates longitudinally and causes shaft I! to vibrate back and forth in the enlarged openings iii, [6 in which it is supported. The movement of the rollers 23, 20 thus produced corresponds to the movement of the shaft l1, said rollers being somewhat cushioned by'the resiliency of the connecting portion 30 between arms 29 and 3i. The person using the device places his foot against the corrugated rollers 20, 2B and moves his foot back and forth over the rotatably mounted rollers. The massaging action provided by the oscillating and vibrating rollers relieves muscular fatigue in the foot, improves blood circulation, and exercises the joints of the foot. The user may employ the device either in a standing, sitting or reclining position. [The device provides a combination of massaging, kneading, vibration, and oscillation of the portions of the foot applied to the rollers 20, 20.

Since the corrugated rollers 20, 20 are rotatable on the shaft IV, the user may employ the device to massage his feet even with the coil 24 deenergized, by moving the foot being massaged back and forth over the rollers.

While a specific embodiment of a vibratory foot massaging device has been disclosed in the'foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1. A foot massaging device of the character described comprising'a housing having an inclined top wall formed with a transverse opening, a corrugated roller movably secured in said housing and projecting through said opening, an electromagnetic vibrator unit secured within said housing and having a reciprocatory element, and yieldable means connecting said element to said roller.

2. A foot massaging device of the character described comprising a housing having, an inclined top wall formed with a transverse opening, a shaft loosely mounted in the side walls of the housing adjacent said opening, a corrugated roller carried on said shaft and projecting through said opening, an arm secured to said shaft, an electromagnetic vibrator unit secured within said housing and having a reciprocatory element, and a resilient member connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to said reciprocatory element.

3. A foot massaging device of the character described comprising a housing having an inclined top wall formed at its upper end portion with a transverse opening, a transverse shaft loosely mounted in the side walls of the housing subadjacent said opening, a pair of spaced corrugated rollers carried on said shaft and projecting through said opening, an arm secured to the intermediate portion of the shaft between the rollers and extending downwardly therefrom, an electromagnetic vibrator unit secured within the housing and having a reciprocatory plunger extending parallel to said top wall, and a spring barconnected at one end to the end of said arm and connected at its other end to said reciprocatory plunger.

4. A foot massaging device of the character described comprising a support, a shaft loosely mounted in said support, a corrugated roller carried on said shaft and projecting above said support, an arm secured to said shaft, an electromagnetic vibrator unit mounted in said support and having a reciprocatory element, and yieldable means connecting said element tosaid roller.

5. A foot massaging device of the character described comprising a support, a shaft loosely mounted in said support, a corrugated roller carried on said shaft and projecting above said support, an arm secured to said shaft, an electromagnetic vibrator unit mounted in said support and having a reciprocatory element, and a resilient member connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to said reciprocatory element.

HAROLD W. RUNSTEDLER.

REFERENCES crrnn Great Britain Oct. 18, 1937 

